Crash of a Douglas DC-3F in Seddon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1973 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AOI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Blenheim - Blenheim
MSN:
16966/34226
YOM:
1945
Location:
Seddon
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
24261
Circumstances:
While completing a crop spraying flight, the pilot lost control of the airplane after the right wing detached in flight. The aircraft crashed in an open field and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by in-flight separation of the starboard wing due to a loss of structural strength brought about by extensive fatigue cracks in the lower centre wing wraparound and internal doublers inboard of Sta. 142, initiation and propagation to failure of the RH wing cracks being due to consistent overstress.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon at Wigram AFB

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1958
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1809
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Wigram
MSN:
04295
YOM:
1951
Location:
Wigram AFB (Christchurch)
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the airplane landed hard and was considered as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew. The accident occurred by night.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M near Blenheim: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1953 at 0859 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
NZ5908
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Whenuapai
MSN:
13061
YOM:
1952
Location:
Blenheim
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Woodbourne AFB in Blenheim, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to right when the aircraft entered clouds. Six minutes later, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Taylor Pass, about 12 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard Webb,
F/Lt James Brookes,
F/Sgt Phillip Diebert,
Sgt John Collins,
Sgt Thomas Dean.
Probable cause:
It was determined that Captain Richard Webb who was the commanding officer at Whenuapai boarded the flight at Woodbourne. He was not a qualified pilot on the Bristol 170 but was at controls when the accident occurred. It was established that he was seating in the left hand seat while the captain on this flight occupied the right hand seat as pilot in second. The departure was completed under IFR from runway 06 and the airplane entered clouds during the initial climb. Instead of continuing strait ahead over the Cook Strait, the airplane turned to the right over a mountainous area. Navigation instruments were not tuned to the correct beacon (Blenheim NDB), which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at Woodbourne AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1226
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
2606
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a night training flight. Shortly after take off from Woodbourne Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed five km from the airfield, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Felix Ulenberg, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Woodbourne AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1263
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
574
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight for the second Army Training School. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 500 feet, the twin engine aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 200 metres past the runway end. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (2nd ATS):
LAC Wylie Hoog, pilot,
LAC Harry Roughton, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in the Tararua Mountain Range: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1941 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
553
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tararua Mountain Range
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RNZAF Woodbourne (near Blenheim) at 0907LT with a scheduled return at 1115LT. The aircraft failed to return and SAR were initiated. Unfortunately, no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot found and all operations were abandoned after a week. A hunter found the wreckage on April 5, 1980 in an isolated area located in the Tararua Mountain Range, between Masterton, Paraparaumu and Waikanae.
Crew:
LAC Selwyn Sinclair, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II off Blenheim: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1941 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1276
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
2681
YOM:
1940
Location:
Blenheim
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a training flight with another Airspeed Oxford registered NZ1246. En route, both aircraft collided for unknown reasons. As the pilot of NZ1246 was able to make an emergency landing at RNZAF Woodbourne, NZ1276 crashed into the sea off Blenheim, killing the pilot.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Alex Haigh, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Woodbourne AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1940 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ271
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
493
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a night solo training flight out from Woodbourne AFB. After liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. The pilot initiated a sharp turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Thomas Denbee.
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